January 2010

New Staffing Schedule Published
Friday, 29 January 10
The DES has published a new staffing schedule for primary schools.

100 Schools Gain a Teacher
Friday, 29 January 10
The DES has published a list of schools that are being allocated additional teaching posts in accordance with commitments in the renewed Programme for Government.

Clarification on Summer Course Providers
Wednesday, 27 January 10
The Drumcondra Education Centre recently sent a letter to all schools re applications for summer course providers.

INTO/EBS Handwriting Competition 2010
Tuesday, 26 January 10
The INTO and EBS are delighted to launch the annual INTO/EBS Handwriting Competition. The competition is open to all schools and entries will be judged on style, flair, neatness and layout of the handwriting.

Education International Haiti Appeal
Tuesday, 26 January 10
Education International, the representative group for unions around the world, has launched an appeal for victims of the earthquake disaster in Haiti.

Clarification on Directive
Monday, 25 January 10
Members will receive copies of the the directive issued by the CEC of the INTO with the Jan/Feb InTouch this week.

Education Unions Meet to Review Campaign
Monday, 25 January 10
A Joint Statement by Presidents and General Secretaries of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has been released.

New DES Circulars
Monday, 25 January 10
The DES has released new circulars this month on salaries, special education, professional development and the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme 2009.

Pay Cuts Hit Salary
Thursday, 21 January 10
INTO members throughout the country felt the effect in their salaries today of the pay cut imposed by the government in Budget 2010.

Educating for the Digital Society
Wednesday, 20 January 10
This week David Puttnam addressed a breakfast meeting of the IIEA's Digital Future Group on the topic of Education in the Digital Society.

Teacher Supply Panel Scheme
Tuesday, 19 January 10
The INTO has called on the Education Minister to reverse plans to abolish panels of supply teachers around the country.  

Have Your Say - Attend Your Branch Meeting
Tuesday, 19 January 10
Following an INTO Branch and District Officers' meeting on Saturday, branch AGMs have started throughout the country.

Logging in to the Members' Area
Friday, 15 January 10
A number of calls are coming in to Head Office from members having difficulty logging in for the first time to the Members' Area of the website.

Supervision Opt Out Form Available
Thursday, 14 January 10
The DES has published a form for completion by teachers who have opted out of supervision duties for the 2009/2010 school year.

CEC Decides on New Directive
Wednesday, 13 January 10
At its most recent meeting the Central Executive Committee of the INTO expressed its total opposition to the imposition of pay cuts as outlined in Budget 2010 and will continue a campaign of protest against Government’s targeting of INTO members and public sector workers generally.

Commercial Exploitation of School Children
Tuesday, 12 January 10
The INTO has said primary teachers should not support advertising projects by commercial companies which target children or their families through schools.

Queries on Pension Changes
Monday, 11 January 10
INTO Head Office has received a large number of queries about proposed changes to Public Service pensions announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget speech.

Minister O’Keeffe to Allow Schools to Reopen Tomorrow
Monday, 11 January 10
Arising from an update on the weather, the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, has decided that the normal arrangements whereby schools decide to open or close based on local circumstances should be re-instated.

CEC Meets to Consider Campaign of Action
Friday, 8 January 10
The Central Executive Committee of the INTO met on Wednesday, 6 January and will meet again on Saturday, 9 January to consider a range of actions and Directives in response to the unilateral imposition of pay cuts in the public service by the Government.

Minister Announces School Closures
Friday, 8 January 10
All national and secondary schools are to remain closed until Thursday 14 January, Minister for Education Batt O'Keefe announced this afternoon.

Statement by the DES on the planned re-opening of schools
Wednesday, 6 January 10
In relation to the planned re-opening of schools this week against the backdrop of bad weather conditions, the Department wishes to clarify that it is a matter for individual boards of management to decide whether local weather and road conditions warrant the closure of a school.